During her maternity leave, Cambridge academic Cassandra James gets involved in a production of East Lynne and soon discovers that there is as much drama behind the scenes as there is on stage. The director is desperate to revive his flagging career and the maker of a fly-on-the-wall documentary is equally desperate to launch his. As the tension escalates, the crisis is reached when leading lady Melissa disappears before the opening night. Cassandra thinks it is more than just stage fright, for Melissa has left behind her six-month old daughter.
Cassandra's struggles to uncover the truth lead her deeper and deeper into a maze of illusion and deceit. Someone close at hand is not what they seem. Cassandra and her baby are in grave danger . . .